Flap locking device for container inserts



July 21, 195 3 I c. F. GIBBONS 2,646,202 7 FLAP LOCKING DEVICE FORCONTAINER INSERTS Filed 001;. 8, 1949 W6 FIG. 2. /ZC)/ /Z9/ v INV NTORI7' GM Xk HIS ATTORNE Patented July 21, 1953 2;. 4 ;2o.2-. =1, 7 ,I tFLAP LOCKING nEvIcEnoRfcoNr mna- INSERTS-H corporation oflMatylandApnlicationfOctober s, 194a,.jsghamb. latest 2 Elaims. (craze-4m Thisinvention relates to folded blank-paperboard containers or packages ofthe type used for shipping a plurality of small articles, suchias rayoncones, and are provided with means for maintaining such articles inspaced relation to prevent damage thereto by contact with one another orwith the container walls.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efli'cientarrangement for quickly and easily releasably locking together theoverlap,- ping cover flaps of containers of the above type.

The invention consists in the provision of a for holding and locking thecontainer in its tubu lar shape.

V In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a container, r Fig. 2 isa view takensubstantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the blank foldedinto a tubular shape with an article loaded therein, Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the container, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a partof the container showing the locking tab; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the tab folded to locking position and looking inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 3.

The invention is embodied in a device illustrated in the drawings inwhich the numeral I.

indicates a foldable blank for a tubular openended container, thecontainer 'beingof the folded-blank paperboard type, The blank has atubular shape; InAthe particular illustration shown in Fig. 2, thecontainer is used'to hold a series of spools In of rayon yarn, thespools having different size spindles II and I2 therein, the

spools being conical in shape and the spindle I2 being the larger of thetwo. Therefore, apertures 8 and; 9 have different size diameters, Thespools are thus prevented from contacting each other and the walls ofthe container.

The marginal cover flap 1 has openings l3 cut therein, preferably at theends thereof but may be cut in other parts if so desired. A'projectionI4, constituting a shoulder preferably rectangular V in .shape, isformed in each of the openings. The 1' marginal flap 3 has a tab 5cut'therein and. having the same outline as opening I3, the c'onnec tionbetween tab l5 and panel 3 being scored as at I Hi. When the blank hasbeen folded into tubular shape with the flap 3 disposed above flap 1thereby forming the two-ply cover, tabs i5 are folded along score line[6 so that the shoulder I! on tab I5 is folded under projection I4 ineach of the openings, thereby firmly locking the marginal flaps togetherand causing the container to hold rayon yarn spools installed therein,various other articles may be installed. The blank could also be foldedinto hexagonal, octagonal, or any other I polysided container.

, WhatIclaimisr 'l. A folded blank container-comprising a bottom paneland opposed side wall panels having ,marginal cover flaps that areoverlapped for wall; panels 4 and 6 forming the opposite side,

walls; and panels 3 and 1 forming the upper marginal flaps for thetwoply cover panel dis posed opposite the bottom wall. When each of theflaps 4 and 6. is folded toward each other about the scores betweenpanels 4, 5 and. 6,.and-

the flaps 3 and .1- disposed one. above the other-,

the same lateral plane andv being; aligned with each other when theblank'has been folded into forming a two-ply top'wallpanel, one of saidcoverv flaps having a tab' foldably connected thereto substantially at acorner thereof, the :length of the tab being such that its free end edgewill extend substantially to the edge of the flap,

said tab having a right angularly cut-out corner notch adjacent one endof the foldable connection, the other of said cover flaps having anopening substantially similar in shape to said tab and a right angularlyshaped projection in a corner thereof, the projection being ofsubstantially the dimensions of the notch in the said one cover flap andnormally in registry therewith, so that when said tab is folded throughsaid opening into substantially right angular relation with said othercover flapthe edges defining the notch will frictionally engage theedges of the projec- 1 'tion during the folding movement and thehorizontal edge of the notch will be disposed and frictionally heldunder the projection and thus hold the said panels together.

2. A folded blank container comprising a bottom panel and opposed sidewall panels having marginal cover flaps that are overlapped for forminga two-ply top Wall panel, the outermost cover flap-having a tab foldablyconnected thereto at opposite end corners thereof the length of each tabbeing such that-its free end edge will extend to the respective oppositeend edge of the flap, each tab having a right angularly cut- I outcorner notch adjacent one end of the foldable connection, the innermostof the said cover flaps having an opening substantially similar in shapeto its respective superposed tab and a right angularly shaped projectionin a corner thereof, each projection being of substantially thedimensions of the notch in the said inner-.

the respective openings in the corners of the innermost flap and intosubstantially right angular relation with said cover flaps the edgesdefining the notches will frictionally engage the edges of theprojections during the folding movement and the horizontal edges of eachof the notches willbe. disposed .and frictionally held under eachprojection and thus the said flaps are held together and relativemovement therebetween is prevented.

CLYDE F. GIBBONS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,408,159 BOh Sept. 24, 1946

